IDENTIFICATION OF BODIES

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 5

IDENTIFICATION OF BODIES

(BY TLL1X.EA1MI, — vPKCIAL KEPOHTLR. )

Ki.ki:kaxgu, April 16. The steward's identification of tho bodies recovered is proceeding, but there is ono body on tho beach yst, to examine. Thoso at Woodbank are found to be as follows :— Powell (second mate), McPhea, Ilansen (seamen) ; atKekerangu, the chief officer, two firemen andMorJ rison, engineer. There hns been a mistako a 5 l along as to the chief oflicer's body. The body on the beach is just being sent away. It is not Mr Monkmin's. I am going to see it.

Kfkeranuu, Apiil I9. The Wakatu, "with the steward of the Taiaroa aboard, passed Kekerangu early thia morning without calliug. It i3 believed she will land him at the Waipapa Point, 17 milc3 south from here. Tho inquest has to be adjourned for his attendance to identity the bodies, Sergeant Grant, one of tho survivors, •uns formerly second lioutenant in the Basilisk, which under Lieutenant Moresby made the New Guinea expedition in 1S70.

The Voyage in the Captain's Boat. | Tho boat in which the captain escaped was stove in whilo being carried from tho weather to tho leeside of the ship, and was cobbled up with a piece of blanket, w Inch did not, how ever, prevent her from leaking rather seriously when launched. She now Iie3 on the Wellington wharf looking not much the worse for the stormy voyage. The captain and tho ten men took their places in the boat, the captain being last to leave the ship. The captain's boat missed tho stern lino, and although efforts were inado by one of the other boats to tow her back again sho was obliged to be lot go, and drifted out to sea. Then came seventeen hours and a-half of struggling with tho pitiless otorm. The men were wet to the skin by the rain and the seas that broke aboard the frail craft, with no refreshment beyond a little brandy. Ali the men are loud in their praises of Captain Thompson, whose hand ntver left the tiller the whole time. Jt require! much" perseverance and skill to prevent the boat drifting among the breakers and it was only by carefully watching the waves, and dodging them, that she escaped. When daylight broke it was found that the boat had drifted nearly to Cape Campbell, and it was decided to make for the Cape. The sea was running too high, however, and it was soon, eeeji that there was no chance of getting to shore. Two small steamers were noticed sheltering at the Capo, but although signals were made to them no reply was received, and, indeed, tho boat must have been quite invisible in the boiling surf at a short distance. About thi3 timo a tremendous sea struck the boat, which almost swamped her, and greatly increased her leak which was now so serious that two men constantly bailing were only just able to keep the wator down. Tho poor fellows suffered very much from thirst. It is said that the Union S.S. Company will for the future discontinue the Sunday steam services between Wellington and Lyttelton. The Wanaka is to make a weekly trip between Wellington and Dunedin instead. Wellington, April 1G. The Postal Department have received intimation from Kekerangxi that seven mail bags were recovered from the Taiaroa this morning. They are expected at Blenheim by to-day's coach.